Correlation of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli  Harbouring pap Operon with IL-6 and TLR-4  Serum Levels and Other Biomarkers in Diabetic  Mellitus Patients

Rabiha Q Thaje; Abdulameer M. Ghareeb

Rabiha Q Thaje Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Abdulameer M. Ghareeb university of baghdad

Keywords: Cytokines, ELISA, Operon, PCR, Primer

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly investigated by microbial agents such as Escherichia coli, with a significant incidence in diabetic individuals, where chronic hyperglycaemia can exacerbate complications. This study investigates the interplay between UTI pathogens and systemic inflammatory markers in diabetic patients by focusing on the pap operon, a gene complex associated with E. coli virulence.
Methods: The three study groups comprised 100 diabetic patients with UTI, 100 without UTI, and 100 healthy controls. Some biomarkers (FBS and HbA1c) related to diabetes were measured. Using ELISA, serum TLR-4 and IL-6 levels were quantified, and through PCR, the presence of the pap operon was assessed.
Results: Twenty-five samples were found to be positive for E. coli. The findings revealed that patients with the pap operon had elevated mean TLR-4 levels of 1.72 ng/mL compared to 1.02 ng/mL in the negative cohort, which was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). IL-6 levels were similarly higher in the operon-positive group, averaging 86.42 ng/mL versus 68.36 ng/mL in the operon-negative group, again with a significant difference (p = 0.001). However, the variations in FBS and HbA1c levels were not statistically significant, with FBS levels at 120.99 mg/dL for the ‘Positive’ group and 120.63 mg/dL for the ‘Negative’ group (p = 0.804), and HbA1c levels at 9.75% and 10.01%, respectively (p = 0.415). Conclusion: These results suggest that while the pap operon is associated with an increased inflammatory response, it does not have a direct impact on glucose metabolism indicators in the studied diabetic cohort. The data accentuate the necessity for comprehensive studies to elucidate these relationships further and formulate targeted therapeutic interventions .

How to cite this article:
Thaje R Q, Ghareeb A M. Correlation of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Harbouring pap Operon with IL-6 and TLR-4 Serum Levels and Other Biomarkers in Diabetic Mellitus Patients. J Commun Dis. 2025;57(3):89-95.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202572